5 alternatives to bad Chicago baseball

Jose M. Osorio/Tribune

Remember a few years ago, when Landon Donovan's last-second goal versus Algeria in the Wold Cup actually had people caring about the other "futbol" for a while? That was fun! While the World Cup is not until 2014, the CONCACAF Gold Cup acts as a primer this year, one the United States has a chance to win. The boys in red, white and blue are riding a five-match win streak heading into Tuesday's Gold Cup opener.

National soccer is a great community watch. Even if you don't normally follow it, that didn't stop anyone from enjoying the Blackhawks, so why should it here? The rules are pretty simple, and its concepts are similar to hockey, though at a fraction of the pace and on grass instead of ice. You can even watch the tournament's championship match live, as Soldier Field will host.

Soccer's buildup and constant flow make it a perfect sport for the bar. There are even built-in guys to cheer for: Current Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson and former Fire player Damarcus Beasley are on the U.S. roster.

Remember a few years ago, when Landon Donovan's last-second goal versus Algeria in the Wold Cup actually had people caring about the other "futbol" for a while? That was fun! While the World Cup is not until 2014, the CONCACAF Gold Cup acts as a primer this year, one the United States has a chance to win. The boys in red, white and blue are riding a five-match win streak heading into Tuesday's Gold Cup opener.

National soccer is a great community watch. Even if you don't normally follow it, that didn't stop anyone from enjoying the Blackhawks, so why should it here? The rules are pretty simple, and its concepts are similar to hockey, though at a fraction of the pace and on grass instead of ice. You can even watch the tournament's championship match live, as Soldier Field will host.

Soccer's buildup and constant flow make it a perfect sport for the bar. There are even built-in guys to cheer for: Current Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson and former Fire player Damarcus Beasley are on the U.S. roster.

Not sure how much you like Marquis Teague (pictured) because you never saw him play? He actually gets court time in the Bulls' Summer League games! These tuneups allow you to watch guys develop, like rising star Jimmy Butler did last year.

You can see all the young fringe players in the NBA, be they first-round picks trying to find their way with a team or hard workers four years removed from college still trying to make the league. This includes old "oh my God, it's THAT guy" college players too, like Luke Harangody and Andy Rautins, two members of this year's Bulls summer team. And if the novelty of that wasn't enough, Carlos Boozer has a younger brother, Charles, on the Bulls' squad this summer. More Boozer, more better.

Not sure how much you like Marquis Teague (pictured) because you never saw him play? He actually gets court time in the Bulls' Summer League games! These tuneups allow you to watch guys develop, like rising star Jimmy Butler did last year.

You can see all the young fringe players in the NBA, be they first-round picks trying to find their way with a team or hard workers four years removed from college still trying to make the league. This includes old "oh my God, it's THAT guy" college players too, like Luke Harangody and Andy Rautins, two members of this year's Bulls summer team. And if the novelty of that wasn't enough, Carlos Boozer has a younger brother, Charles, on the Bulls' squad this summer. More Boozer, more better.

It's July in Chicago, and around this time, the city would normally be watching one, maybe two, contending baseball teams.

Unfortunately, this isn't the case in 2013: While the Blackhawks ripped through the playoffs to a Stanley Cup, the summer months have not been kind to Chicago baseball. Both the Cubs and White Sox are limping into the All-Star break near the bottom of their respective divisions, with the Cubs still in their endless rebuilding mode and the Sox just beginning theirs.

So what to do when you've got a Kaner-esque hockey hangover and need to feed it? Well, first, you should still try to dap the baseball teams, cause, you know, "through thick and thin" and all that. But losing sucks, so here are alternatives that could be your cool drink of water during this summer sports drought—at least until Bears training camp. Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye Sports' Facebook page.